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25 July, 2012The union representing workers at CEMCOL has denounced the company’s anti-trade union attitude and requested solidarity.
Honduras. CEMCOL (Casa Comercial Mathews), which distributes heavy equipment produced by Caterpillar, has dismissed 160 members of the Sindicato de Trabajadores de Casa Comercial Mathews (SITRACCMA), the union that has represented the company’s employees for more than 20 years.
The Central de Trabajadores de Honduras (CGTH) reports that CEMCOL, in clear violation of Honduran labour legislation, ILO conventions and the company’s collective agreement with the union, dismissed all the union’s members after they refused to transfer their employment contracts to another company set up by the same employer.
The company has since re-employed some of the dismissed workers on lower pay.
The union has had constructive relations with the company for many years and the workers have helped to make it successful.
SITRACCMA is demanding that the company reinstates the dismissed workers, respects the union, complies with the terms of the collective agreement and ends harassment of the workers. It is also requesting international solidarity and has asked the President of the Republic and Labour Minister to intervene.
IndustriALL Global Union has offered its support to the union and written to the company and to President Porfirio Lobo Sosa, demanding the company reinstates the works and stops attacking the union.